.                       as a cricket fan in the 1960s and 1970s-i remember hearing commentary from all india radio-and the undercurrent  in all these commentaries was a feeling that indians are priviledged to share the same field
as the sahebs.
            cl james and ramachandra guha in their own ways have written books on cricket-social mores and the unfolding of history-with a background of cricket.
             the books written by cl james are pieces of subversive history-but there are some delightful articles in some wonderfully written books-by ramachandra guha-which tongue in cheek  question established wisdom.
                        watching one of the most impressive opening ceremonies ever-i was reminded of alvin tofflers 
book-power shift-and what most western countries do not understand is that a powershift has happened as
regards cricket-and the powershift has happened to india-economics dictate most decisions-and in cricket the big money is in india.
                                     this brings me back to the change in the mindset of indians over the years-i am quoting cricketers as an example-guha talks of  the advice given to prasanna, chandrashekhar, subramanyam, and kunderan-by a karnataka cricketer who had toured england in the 1930s-he took them to the central college grounds-poured water on the pitch-gave them a wet ball-asked them to bowl-and also councelled them saying if an english umpire gives you out-do not question his decision-also-if an english slip fielder appeals- you are out-
this was in 1967-and in 1971-all the above players must have understood that  the above piece of advice is a lot of bull-because in 1971-i do not think people like chandrashekhar listened to anyone-they beat england.
              economic cycles dictate respect on the world scene-and india and china through the ages have
been the richest countries in the world-and history always repeats- let the icci understand economics